Cleaning device for a footwear and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A footwear comprising a sole having an integral mounting device forming part of the sole, an attachment portion, the attachment portion forming a part of the integral mounting device, the attachment portion of the integral mounting device configured to removably accept a cleaning device, wherein the attachment portion contacts a side of the footwear when in an assembled position on the footwear, wherein the cleaning device facilitates the cleaning of equipment is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application claiming the benefit ofand priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 12/635,773, filed, Dec. 11,2009, entitled “Cleaning Device Affixed to a Footwear and MethodThereof.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Technology

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of mounting acleaning device, in particular, a golf club cleaning brush, onto a pieceof footwear.

2. Related Art

As recreational sports, such as golf, become increasingly popular, themore crowded golf courses may become. Therefore, to allow as manyparticipants as possible to play a round of golf in a given day, acertain pace of play must be maintained, or sometimes increaseddepending on the volume of participants on the golf course. One aspectof the game that may slow the pace of play is the need to have a cleanclub face, free from course debris. Each time a player takes a practiceswing, uses, or sets down a club, the club face may need to be cleaned.Unfortunately, a golf club cleaner may not always be at arm's length toclean the club. Rules and etiquette of the game may not allow aparticipant to retrieve a golf club cleaner from a distant golf club bagor golf cart. Typically, the participant must either break the rules byreturning to the golf cart to use a brush, which halts play anddecreases the pace of play, or attempt a golf shot with a dirty,debris-covered golf club, which usually negatively alters the accuracy,contact, and trajectory of the golf ball.

Thus, there is a need for a device and method which overcomes theaforementioned deficiencies in the art for affixing a cleaning device,in particular, a golf club cleaning brush, proximate a piece offootwear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention provides a device comprising acleaning device operably attached to a mounting device, wherein themounting device is configured to engage a footwear, wherein the cleaningdevice facilitates the cleaning of equipment.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a golf club cleaningdevice comprising a mounting plated coupling a footwear, the mountingplate having at least one opening therethrough, an attachment device onthe mounting plate, the attachment device being receptive to a first endof a cleaning device to releasably secure the cleaning device to themounting plate, wherein a first surface of the attachment devicecorresponds to a mating surface of the first end of the cleaning deviceand a second end of a cleaning device configured to contact a golf club,the second end protruding from the footwear.

A third aspect of the present invention provides A method of cleaning agolf club comprising providing a cleaning device, wherein the cleaningdevice has a first end and a second end, coupling the first end of thecleaning device and the attachment device, wherein the attachment deviceand a mounting plate form a mounting device, and wherein the mountingdevice is configured to engage a footwear.

The foregoing and other features of construction and operation of theinvention will be more readily understood and fully appreciated from thefollowing detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some of the embodiments of this invention will be described in detail,with reference to the following figures, wherein like designationsdenote like members wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective, partially cut-away view of an embodimentof a mounting device, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2A depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of a mounting deviceengaging a footwear, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2B depicts a top view of an embodiment of a mounting deviceengaging a footwear, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2C depicts a top view of an embodiment of a mounting devicepositioned alongside a footwear, wherein the footwear is hidden, inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a side view of an embodiment of a mounting deviceengaging a footwear, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a side, cross-section view of an embodiment of a mountingplat having an adhesive layer and a non-adhesive cover, in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a cleaning device,in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting deviceand a cleaning device, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 depicts a side view of an embodiment of a mounting device and acleaning device, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a brush portionattached to a side of a footwear, in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a method ofslidably attaching a cleaning device to a mounting device, in accordancewith the present invention; and

FIG. 10 depicts a side view of an embodiment of the mounting devicemolded as part of a sole of a footwear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although certain embodiments of the present invention are shown anddescribed in detail, it should be understood that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of theappended claims. The scope of the present invention will in no way belimited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof,the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and aredisclosed simply as an example of embodiments of the present invention.

As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, asused in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms“a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearlydictates otherwise.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of amounting device 50. A mounting device may have, inter alia, a first end51, a second end 52, a mounting plate 20, an attachment device 30proximate the second end 52, at least one opening 35 located on theattachment device 30, and at least one opening 25 located on themounting plate 20. The mounting device 50 may also be a brace, rack,unit, member, support, bracket, clamp, or any device that facilitatesthe engagement of a footwear 90, which is also capable of accepting aand supporting a cleaning device 40. The mounting device 50 may includea mounting plate 20 and an attachment device 30, which may form themounting device 50 configured to engage a footwear 90. In oneembodiment, the mounting device 50 may be one, solid, uniform,consistent member, piece, structure, component, etc., wherein themounting plate 20 forms, or represents, a part, or portion, of themounting device 50, and the attachment device 30 also forms, orrepresents, a part, or portion, of the mounting device 50. The mountingdevice 50 may also be hollowed out, or may be constructed by injectionmolding, or other various means of fabrication. In another embodiment,the mounting device 50 may be formed by two separate parts, for example,the attachment device 30 may be attached, affixed, glued, bonded,connected, screwed, bolted, welded, etc., to the mounting plate 20. Theshape of the mounting device 50 may vary, but in many embodiments, maybe curvilinear, or circular, to conform to most designs of footwear 90.For example, a typical footwear 90 may be curvilinear around the toes,or front of the footwear 90. Therefore, the mounting device 50 may beshaped, generally, to conform to the shape of the footwear 90, and inmany embodiments, may be rounded, or curvilinear.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2C, the mounting device 50 may be configuredto engage a piece of footwear 90. Moreover, the mounting device 50 maydirectly contact, contact, bond, connect, mount, etc., a footwear 90.The mounting device 50 may also be capable of engaging a footwear 90,may be positioned alongside a footwear 90, and/or may be shaped,constructed, designed, adapted, patterned, and/or shaped to engage,mount, bond, connect, rest against, directly contact, grip, couple,etc., with a footwear 90 or a portion of a footwear 90. For instance,the mounting device 50 may be affixed, attached, glued, bonded, nailed,fastened, molded, or coupled to a piece of footwear 90 through variousmeans described herein or otherwise known to those skilled in the art.In one embodiment, the mounting device 50 may be coupled, or adhered, toa footwear 90 by any adhesive, specifically, by a thin, adhesive layer26, or film, placed on a top surface 21 of the mounting plate 20. Theadhesive layer 26 may come with a non-adhesive cover 27 that may bepeeled away to reveal the adhesive layer 26. In another embodiment,glue, epoxy, rubber cement, or any other adhesive may be applied to themounting device 50 immediately prior to attachment to a footwear 90. Inanother embodiment, the mounting device 50 may be fastened to thefootwear 90 by at least one small fastener 85, as shown in FIG. 3. Thesmall fasteners 85 may be any fastening device, such as a nail or screw,and described as small only for the purpose and understanding that thelength of the small fasteners 85 may be smaller than other fastenersused throughout the device 100. The small fasteners 85 may be made ofmetal, composites, wood, or hard plastic; however, if the smallfasteners 85 should be constructed of metal, they must not be exposed adistance below the footwear 90 to cause any damage to any surface, suchas a green or fairway of a golf course, any interior surface, forexample, in a clubhouse. Additionally, the small fasteners 85 may bedriven through the mounting plate 20, starting from the bottom surface22 through the top surface 21 to secure the mounting device 50 to anunderside of the footwear, or the sole 95 of the footwear 90. Moreover,the length of the small fasteners 85 should be a length such that afterengaging the sole 95, they do not extend completely through the sole 95and into the interior of the footwear to avoid injury to a foot, andshould not extend a distance below the bottom surface 22 of the mountingplate 20 such that they contact the ground or potentially expose sharpedges. In another embodiment, the mounting device 50 may be both adheredto the sole 95 of the footwear 90 and secured by at least one smallfastener 85. FIG. 10 depicts another embodiment, wherein the mountingdevice 50 may be molded into or incorporated into the footwear 90 whenthe footwear 90 is made. This method of manufacture may providestability and support to the device 100, and allow a manufacture tomatch colors, dyes, and spike 92 locations at the same point in themanufacturing process.

The mounting device 50 may engage a footwear 90, or a portion of afootwear 90, wherein a footwear 90 may include any style of footwear 90,and may be a single shoe. For example, footwear 90 may include alow-top, high-top, a tennis shoe, a golf shoe, a running shoe, a workboot, a combat boot, an open toed shoe, such as a sandal, and any pieceof footwear 90 that includes a sole 95, or a substantial portion of asole 95. The mounting device 50, including the mounting plate 20 and theattachment device 30, may best engage, affix to, attach to, couple with,etc., a footwear that is raised a distance above the ground surface toallow the mounting device 50, in particular, the mounting plate 20 tofit underneath the sole 95 without impacting the landing of the footwear90. For example, a footwear 90 having spikes, such as a golf shoe, mayraise the sole 95 of a footwear 90 a distance above the ground tosufficiently allow the mounting plate 20 to fit underneath the sole 95.Any footwear 90 having a space between the sole 95 and the groundsurface may best accommodate the mounting device 50.

Referring back to FIG. 1, mounting plate 20 may be configured to engagea footwear 90, in particular, an underside or sole 95 of a footwear.Moreover, the mounting plate 20 may directly contact, contact, bond,connect, mount, etc., a footwear 90. The mounting plate 20 may also becapable of engaging a footwear 90, may be positioned alongside afootwear 90, and/or may be shaped, constructed, designed, adapted,patterned, and/or shaped to engage, mount, bond, connect, rest against,directly contact, grip, couple, etc., with a footwear 90 or a portion ofa footwear 90. For instance, the mounting plate 20 may be affixed,attached, glued, bonded, nailed, fastened, molded, or coupled to a pieceof footwear 90 through various means described herein or otherwise knownto those skilled in the art. Moreover, the mounting plate 20 may also bea flat portion, a disc, a slab, a stratum, a planar member, or anysubstantially flat member capable of fitting substantially flat againsta sole 95 of a footwear 90. The mounting plate may have at least oneopening 25 located on its surface, the at least one opening 25 extendingthe entire height of the mounting plate 20, from the top surface 21 tothe bottom surface 22. The openings 25 may allow a spike 92, such as agolf spike, to pass through the mounting plate 20. For instance, beforeadhering, fastening, coupling, attaching, or engaging a footwear 90, anyspike 92 located on the sole 95 may be removed from the footwear 90.After the mounting plate 20 is secured to a sole 95, the spikes 92 maybe re-attached through the openings 25 located on the mounting plate 20.Those in the art will appreciate that the location of the openings 25may correspond to the locations of the spikes 92 on the sole 95, andtheir respective spike cavities, such that the openings 25 will allowaccess to replace the spike 92 onto the footwear 90. Moreover, thelocation of the openings 25 may be predetermined to fit a particulardesign, make, or model footwear.

Additionally, the mounting plate 20 may have a thin film, or adhesivelayer 26 spread across the top surface 21, or spread substantiallyacross the sop surface 21 to bond, adhere, secure, couple, etc., the topsurface 21 of the mounting plate 20 to a portion of the sole 95, orfootwear 90, as shown in FIG. 4. In many embodiments, a non-adhesivecover 27 may be placed over the adhesive layer 26 to avoidunintentionally bonding and/or convenience during packaging, transport,handling, etc. When the mounting plate 20 is ready to be secured to aportion of the sole 95 of the footwear 90, the non-adhesive cover 27 maybe peeled back and removed, exposing the adhesive layer 26. The openings25 should first be aligned with the spike cavities, and then themounting plate 20 may be pressed onto a portion of the sole 95 of thefootwear 90 to secure, bond, adhere, etc., it to the footwear 90. Afterthe mounting plate 20 is attached to the sole 95, the spikes 92 may fitthrough the openings 25 and may be replaced. The replacement of thespikes 92 may assist and/or facilitate the fastening of the mountingdevice 20 to the footwear 90. Furthermore, when attaching the mountingplate 20 to the sole 95, it may be placed proximate to the edge of thefootwear 90, wherein the mounting plate 20 being located underneath thefootwear 90, and the attachment device 30 being located on the side ofthe footwear 90, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C In other words, the attachmentdevice 30 may be located on the side of footwear 90, such that it restsagainst an outer surface 96 of the sole 95, and may be accessiblewithout removing the footwear 90.

Alternatively, the mounting plate 20 need not have an adhesive layer 26,nor be bonded or adhered by an adhesive to secure it to the sole 95 of afootwear 90. The mounting plate 20 may also be secured to the sole 95 offootwear 90 using at least one small fastener 85, at least one largefastener 65, or a combination thereof. However, the placement andlocation of the mounting plate 20 underneath the footwear 90 may be thesame as if adhering it using the adhesive layer 26, except one or moresmall or large fasteners, 85, 65 may be driven through the mountingplate 20 to engage the sole 95 of the footwear 90. In one embodiment,the large fastener 65 may be driven through the top of the device 100.In another embodiment, the large fastener 65 may be driven from thefront of the device proximate the cleaning device 40. When securing themounting plate 20 to the footwear 90, the fasteners 65, 85 may have alength such that they do not extend through the sole 95 and extend intothe interior of the footwear 90, which may cause injury to a foot insidethe footwear 90. Furthermore, the mounting plate 20 may be both adhered,bonded, etc., to the sole 95 using the adhesive layer 26 and secured tothe sole 95 by using at least one small or large fastener 85, 65. Inboth of these embodiments, the mounting plate 20 may be removable fromthe footwear 90. For example, the mounting plate 20 may be peeled offthe sole 95 and/or fasteners 65, 85 removed, and be re-attached usingone or more small or large fasteners 85, 65 or additional adhesives.However, the mounting plate 20 may be molded into or incorporated intothe footwear as a portion, or part, of the sole 95 when the footwear 90is made. This method of manufacture may provide stability and support tothe device 100, and allow a manufacture to match colors, dyes, and spike92 locations at the same point in the manufacturing process. Beingmolded or incorporated into the footwear 90 may prevent the mountingplate and/or mounting device 50 from being removable.

The mounting plate 20 may be curvilinear in shape, such as a circle. Inmany embodiments, the mounting plate 20 may be shaped to correspond tothe curvature of the sole 95. Moreover, the mounting plate 20 isconfigured to engage only a portion of the sole 95 of the footwear 90.Because the mounting plate 20 is configured to engage only a portion ofthe sole 95, the shape of the mounting plate 20 may vary. For instance,the end of the mounting plate 20 proximate the attachment device 30, orproximate the second end 52 of the mounting device 50, may becurvilinear and correspond to the curvature of the sole 95. However, theend of the mounting plate 20 distal to the attachment device 30, orproximate the first end 51 of the mounting device 50, may also becurvilinear, but may also be any desirable shape, such as rectangular,polygonal, and the like. In one embodiment, the end of the mountingplate 20 distal to the attachment device 30, or proximate the first end51 of the mounting device 50, may be designed to appropriately andefficiently conform to the design and/or model of the particularfootwear 90. The mounting plate 20 may be reversible, wherein themounting plate 20 may be placed on either the left oriented footwear 90or the right oriented footwear 90. For example, a mounting plate may beattached to a left golf shoe and between holes, may be removed andattached to a right golf shoe without any alterations needed.Furthermore, the mounting plate 20 may be constructed out of materialthat is resilient, flexible, semi-rigid, and the like, to conform to thesole 95, as well as to remain lightweight. However, the mounting plate20 may also be constructed out of a rigid material. Therefore, themounting plate 20 may be constructed out of, inter alia, metal,composites, hard plastic, rubber, nylon, vinyl, combination thereof, orany other suitable material commonly used in footwear.

Referring again to FIG. 1, an attachment device 30 may be locatedproximate the second end 52 of the mounting device, the attachmentdevice 30 being receptive to a first end 41, or base member 43, of acleaning device 40 to releasably secure the cleaning device 40 to themounting plate 20, wherein a groove surface 38, or first surface, of theattachment device 30 corresponds to a mating surface 48 of the first end41 of the cleaning device 40. The attachment device 30 may also be agroove, a receptor, a clip-in device, a slide-in device, or any devicecapable of receiving a cleaning device 40 and removably securing it tothe mounting plate 20. The attachment device 30 may be a component ofthe mounting plate 20 and/or it may be a component of the mountingdevice 50. For example, the attachment device 30 and the mounting plate20 together may form, or represent, the mounting device 50. In anotherexample, the attachment device 30 may be a portion or component of themounting plate 20. In many embodiments, the attachment device 30 and themounting plate 20 are comprised of the same material, which may be aflexible, resilient, semi-rigid, or rigid material such as, inter alia,metal, composite, hard plastic, rubber, vinyl, nylon, a combinationthereof, or any other suitable material commonly used in footwear.

Furthermore, the attachment device 30 may include a back surface 33, aflange 34, a top surface 36, at least one opening 35 located on the topsurface 36, and a groove 37 running horizontally therethrough. The backsurface 33 may contact a side of the footwear 90 when the mountingdevice 50 is affixed to the footwear 90. Located adjacent to the backsurface 33 may be a top surface 36, wherein at least one opening 35 maybe located. The top surface 36 may be pitched, or sloped, to facilitatethe angling of the cleaning device 40. Moreover, the top surface 36 maybe angled to allow the cleaning device 40 to be upwardly angled from aground surface. The openings 35 located on the top surface 36 mayaccept, receive, accommodate, etc., at least one locking pin 39, and maybe horizontally aligned across the top surface 36 of the attachmentdevice 30. One or more locking pins 39 may be inserted into the openings35 to removably secure the cleaning device 40 into its place withingroove 37. For instance, the cleaning device 40 may have one or moreopenings, or detents, 45 located thereon, wherein the cleaning deviceopenings 45 are aligned with the attachment device openings 35, andaccommodate, accept, receive, etc., the at least one locking pin 39which may be inserted to secure the cleaning device 40. The locking pin39 may or may not be needed or required to removably secure the cleaningdevice 40, and the decision whether to utilize a locking pin 39 maydepend on the friction coefficient of the materials used to manufacturethe components. For example, a locking pin 39 may be useful if thecleaning device 40 may be likely to slide loose from groove 37. Thelocking pin 39 may be any tubular object, such as a pin, needle, screw,bolt, nail, and the like. In one embodiment, more than one locking pin39 may be coextensively connected together by a horizontal member,forming a “pitchfork” to lock the cleaning device 40 into place withinthe groove 37 in more than one of the openings 35.

Located adjacent to the back surface 33 and distal to the top surface 36may be a flange 34. Flange 34 may create a space, channel, opening, or aplace where the sole 95 may fit into when the mounting device 50 isaffixed to the footwear, as shown in FIG. 3. This may allow the mountingdevice 50 to fit against the footwear 90 as snugly as possible to helpsupport the cleaning device 40 and help prevent any undue deflection ofthe mounting plate 20. Running horizontally through the attachmentdevice 30 may be a groove 37 having a groove surface 38, or firstsurface, which may correspond with a mating surface 48 of a first end41, or base member 43, of the cleaning device 40. The groove 37 may bean opening, a channel, a gap, a cavity, a keyway, and the like. Thegroove 37 may have various cross-sections, including, but not limitedto, rectangular, trapezoidal, dovetail, circular, polygonal, hexagonal,pentagonal, square, and the like. The profile created by the groovesurface 38 may define the cross-section, and may correspond to theprofile of the mating surface 48 of the cleaning device 40. Furthermore,the shape, structure, frame, mold, contour, profile, surface,construction, or figure of the attachment device 30, in particular, thegroove 37, may correspond to the shape, structure, frame, mold, contour,profile, surface, construction, or figure of the first end 41, and/orbase member 43, of the cleaning device 40. Thus, the attachment device30, and/or groove 37, may accept, accommodate, receive, mate, interlock,couple, house, engage, secure, interlock, and/or accept the cleaningdevice 30.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a cleaning device 40 may be operably attachedto a mounting device 50. Additionally, the cleaning device 40 may beoperably attached to the attachment device 30. The cleaning device 40may have a first end 41, a second end 42, a dimple 44 located thereon, abase member 43 proximate the first end 41, and a brush portion 46proximate the second end 42, wherein the brush portion 46 may beattached to the base member 43. The cleaning device 40 may angularlyprotrude from a footwear 90. In one embodiment, the cleaning device 40may angularly protrude away from the footwear 90 at an angle between 0°to 70° with respect to a ground surface Proximate the first end 41, thecleaning device 40 may have a mating surface 48 that may correspond tothe groove surface 38 of the attachment device 30, such that the matingsurface 48 of the cleaning device 40 may mate, interlock, communicate,contact, and/or couple with the groove surface 38 to removably securethe cleaning device 30 to the attachment device 30 within the groove 37.For instance, the base member 43 may have a mating surface 48 thatcorresponds with the groove surface 38, and the base member 43 may bedimensioned such that it fits within the groove 37 to removably securethe cleaning device 30 into the attachment device 30. The cleaningdevice 40 should be secured strongly enough and/or fit snugly enoughthat the cleaning device 40 may sustain any resistance or appliedmechanical forces from the cleaning a piece of sport equipment, such asa golf club, and not unintentionally become dislodged. Furthermore, thebase member 43 may have various cross-sections, including, but notlimited to, rectangular, trapezoidal, dovetail, circular, polygonal,hexagonal, pentagonal, square, and the like. The profile of the matingsurface 48 may define the cross-section, and may correspond to theprofile of the groove surface 38 of the attachment device 30.

Moreover, the cleaning device may have a brush portion 46 attached,affixed, bonded, etc., to the base member 43. For example, the brushportion 46 may be attached to the attachment device 30 by thermalmolding, injection molding, an adhesive, plug ports, or any other methodof securing brush-like components to another structure. The combinationof the brush portion 46 and the base member 43 may comprise, generally,the cleaning device 40. The brush portion 46 may be made of interlockedbristles, wire bristles, wire mesh, copper mesh, steel mesh, brass mesh,steel bristles, brass bristles, horse hair, synthetic, nylon, similarbrush materials, and any other brush/cleaning materials that mayfacilitate the removal of dirt, golf course debris, mud, grass, and thelike. Alternatively, the brush portion 46 may comprise a layer ofsandpaper, sandpaper having various grit sizes, a plurality of beads,said beads being rubber, composites, hard plastic, metal, or anysuitable material. The brush portion 46 may protrude or extend adistance from the base member 43. In many embodiment, the brush portion46 may protrude or extend anywhere from 0.1 to 5 centimeters (0.01 to 2inches). Those in the art should appreciate that the length of the brushportion 46 may vary, and may be any length outside 0.1 to 5 cm. However,the brush portion 46 may be long enough to clean a piece of sportsequipment, such as a golf club face, but may also be short enough toremain unobtrusive to lessen the possibility of snagging clothes ordebris, and avoid becoming a tripping hazard. Furthermore, the brushportion 46 may cover, or substantially cover, the face of the cleaningdevice 40, the face being located proximate the second end 42, andfacing away from the attachment device 30.

With continued reference to FIG. 5, there may be more than one method ofoperably attaching the cleaning device 40 to the attachment device 30.In one embodiment, the cleaning device 40 may slidably engage themounting device 50. For instance, a method of slidably engaging acleaning device 40 with a mounting device 50, or an attachment device30, may include positioning the cleaning device 40 alongside theattachment device 30, aligning the mating surface 48 of the cleaningdevice 40 with the groove surface 38, and sliding the cleaning device 40through the groove 37. For example, before a golfer starts a round ofgolf, the golfer may slide the cleaning device 40 into the attachmentdevice 30, which is mounted on one of his or her shoes 90. Once theround is over, the golfer may remove the cleaning device 40 from theattachment device 30 and store it in his or her golf bag. Moreover,located somewhere on the cleaning device 40, or located somewhere on thebase member 43, may be a dimple 44. The dimple 44 may be an indentation,detent, recession, crater, depression, and the like. An object, such asa golf tee, may engage the dimple 44, and help slide the cleaning device40 along the groove 37 to facilitate the easy removal or attachment ofthe cleaning device 40 to and from the attachment device 30.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 depict another embodiment of a method of operablyattaching the cleaning device 140 to the mounting device 150, orattachment device 130, which may include snapping or clipping thecleaning device 140, in particular, the base member 143, into a keyway139. The keyway 139 may be similar to the groove 37, yet may not extendthe entire horizontal distance of the attachment device 130 and may ormay not be angled. A base member 143 may include at least one pressurerelease button 149 on its sides to removably secure the cleaning device140 to the attachment device 140. The pressure release buttons 149 maybe resilient, such that when depressed, they may return to theiroriginal position. The keyway 139 may include cut-outs 135 thatcorrespond to the shape and volume of the pressure release buttons 149located on the base member 143. Thus, the pressure release button 149may be depressed, allowing the cleaning device 140 to enter the keyway139. Once inside the keyway 139, the pressure release buttons 149 mayspring back against the walls of the keyway 139, and may eventually fitwithin the cut-outs 135 to secure the cleaning device 140 into theattachment device 130. The cut-outs 135 may house, accommodate, contain,receive, accept, etc., the pressure release buttons 149. Those in theart will appreciate that other securing methods may be used, such as ahook, hook and fastener, ball and dimple, locking pins, detents, andother various securing methods which may removably secure the cleaningdevice 140 to the attachment device 130.

Furthermore, the cleaning device 40, or simply a brush portion 46 may becoupled, bonded, attached, affixed, adhered, etc., to a footwear 90, ora portion of a footwear 90 directly, as shown in FIG. 8. For example, abrush portion 46 may simply directly engage a portion of a footwear,such as the side, edge, or outer surface 96 of a sole 95, withoutincluding the mounting device 50. The brush portion 46 may be glued,bonded, or adhered with a glue, cement, epoxy, or any other means tobond a brush portion 46 to a footwear 90.

With reference to FIGS. 1-9, in particular, FIG. 9, a method of cleaninga piece of sports equipment, such as a golf club, may include the stepsof providing a cleaning device 40, wherein the cleaning device 40 has afirst end 41 and a second end 42, coupling the first end 41 of thecleaning device 40 and an attachment device 30, wherein the attachmentdevice 30 and a mounting plate 20 form a mounting device 50, wherein themounting device 50 is configured to engage a footwear 90. A method mayfurther include placing a layer of adhesive on a top surface 21 of themounting plate 20 for securing the mounting plate 20 to a sole 95 of thefootwear 90, securing the mounting plate 20 with at least one smallfastener 85 and at least one large fastener 65, positioning at least oneopening 25 on the mounting plate 20, and adjusting an angle of thecleaning device 30. Moreover, the method may further include molding themounting plate 20 into a sole 95 of a footwear 90 to secure the mountingplate 20 to the sole 95 of a footwear 90. It should be understood thatthe device 100 may be also be an apparatus and method for cleaning morethan just sports equipment. For example, the device 100 may be used toclean a piece of hardware, tools, such as a jack hammer or hammer drill,any work equipment, or any item that may appreciate hands-free cleaning.

Each component of device 100, including, but not limited to, mountingdevice 50, mounting plate 20, attachment device 30, groove 37, keyway139, base member 43, flange 34, openings, 25, 35, 45, and dimple 44, maybe fabrication and/or manufactured by the following methods: casting,extruding, cutting, knurling, turning, tapping, drilling, injectionmolding, blow molding, or other fabrication methods that may provideefficient production of the component.

Various modifications and variations of the described apparatus andmethod will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the invention. Although this invention hasbeen described in connection with specific embodiments, outlined above,it should be understood that the invention should not be unduly limitedto such specific embodiments. Various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A footwear comprising: a sole having an integralmounting device forming part of the sole; an attachment portion, theattachment portion forming a part of the integral mounting device, theattachment portion of the integral mounting device configured toremovably accept a cleaning device, wherein the attachment portioncontacts a side of the footwear when in an assembled position on thefootwear; wherein the cleaning device facilitates the cleaning ofequipment.
 2. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the cleaning deviceincludes a brush.
 3. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the mountingdevice is molded as part of the sole of the footwear.
 4. The footwear ofclaim 1, wherein the cleaning device is slidably attached to theattachment portion.
 5. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the cleaningdevice is clipped onto the attachment portion.
 6. The footwear of claim1, wherein the cleaning device angularly protrudes away from thefootwear at an angle between 0° to 70° with respect to a ground surface.7. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the cleaning device cleans a golfclub.
 8. A footwear comprising: a mounting device forming a sole of afootwear, the mounting device having at least one opening therethrough,the mounting device having an attachment portion, the attachment portionbeing receptive to a first end of a cleaning device to releasably securethe cleaning device to the attachment portion, wherein a first surfaceof the attachment portion corresponds to a mating surface of the firstend of the cleaning device, and a second end of the cleaning device isconfigured to contact a golf club, the second end protruding from thefootwear; wherein the attachment portion includes a footwear contactingside and a cleaning device contacting side, the footwear contacting sidecontacting a side of the footwear to hinder an entry of solids betweenthe attachment portion and the side of the footwear. wherein at leastone opening is located on the attachment portion to removably secure thecleaning device.
 9. The footwear of claim 8, wherein the least oneopening allows at least one locking pin to pass therethrough.
 10. Thefootwear of claim 8, wherein the mounting device is molded as part ofthe sole of the footwear.
 11. The footwear of claim 8, wherein thesecond end of the cleaning device includes a brush portion for cleaninga contact surface of the golf club.
 12. The footwear of claim 8, whereinthe cleaning device angularly protrudes from the side of the footwear.13. The footwear of claim 8, wherein a dimple is located on the cleaningdevice to assist removal of the cleaning device from the attachmentportion.
 14. A method comprising: forming a sole of a footwear bymolding a mounting device thereto, the mounting device having anattachment portion that forms a part of the mounting device, theattachment portion of the integral mounting device configured toremovably accept a cleaning device, wherein the attachment portioncontacts a side of the footwear when in an assembled position on thefootwear; and forming at least one opening on the attachment portion forremovably securing the cleaning device; wherein a first surface of theattachment portion corresponds to a mating surface of a first end of thecleaning device, and a second end of the cleaning device is configuredto clean a contact surface of a golf club, the second end protrudingfrom the footwear.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:securing the cleaning device with at least one fastener through the atleast one opening on the attachment portion.
 16. The method of claim 14,wherein the cleaning device slidably engages the attachment portion ofthe mounting device forming part of the sole.
 17. The method of claim17, wherein the cleaning device snaps into the attachment portion of themounting device forming part of the sole.